Staff learnt from the couple’s granddaughter that Mrs Bilton, who was in the final stages of cancer, had been admitted to the hospital’s Elderly Assessment Unit after her husband, who was in a ward in the Department of Elderly Medicine.

When Mr Bilton’s condition deteriorated “so rapidly”, Sister Featherstone and colleague Ellis Howard organised for neighbouring patients on his ward to be moved safely to other areas so his wife could be moved into a nearby bed.

Senior Matron Stacey Healand praised the nurses and added: “We’re very proud of what the team achieved on behalf of Mr and Mrs Bilton and their family.”